4 concerts to catch in Washington: Dec. 15-21

ByChris Kelly

December 14, 2017

FuzzQueen

Much has been made of how the Age of Trump will create a slate of reactionary bands, and although the president's influence on music is often overstated, that's not the case with FuzzQueen. In response to the 2016 election and the Women's March, in January, the D.C. band abandoned an Americana approach in favor of something it describes as more urgent and visceral. Now the foursome makes moody and meditative rock that often finds singer Erin Frisby soaring over a straight-ahead attack and exploring pain and hope in her politically charged lyrics. "Let them drill deep, deep, deep into my body," she sings on "Ribbons and Flowers." "My sisters are calling to me/ They sing . . . Come." Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. at Comet Ping Pong. cometpingpong.com. $10.

Shamir in 2015. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson for The Washington Post)

Shamir

When Shamir broke through a few years ago, he was a disco-pop party machine with an androgynous countertenor and irrepressible jams such as "On the Regular." But, as he confessed this year, the life of an "accidental pop star" wasn't for him, and he almost quit making music. Instead, Shamir sat down with a four-track and recorded "Hope," an uneven collection of lo-fi, outsider pop that he followed up with the similarly tuned "Revelations." Anyone looking for him to lead a dance party will be disappointed, but for fans of that inimitable voice and youth-in-revolt lyricism, Shamir still has plenty to say. Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at U Street Music Hall. ustreetmusichall.­com. $18.

Are you filled with aca-ticipation for the Dec. 22 release of "Pitch Perfect 3," the latest installment in the musical comedy series that made a cappella cool (or, at least, delighted in its uncoolness)? Then head to the Anthem to catch Pentatonix, the chart-smashing quintet that delivers the same type of vocal acrobatics as the Bellas in the movie (and with whom they faced off in the last sequel). It's the group's first Christmas tour, so expect a set heavy with holiday favorites, along with a few of their trademark pop mash-ups (they've been tackling the discographies Daft Punk and Michael Jackson lately) for a pitch-perfect evening. Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Anthem.theanthemdc.com. Sold out.

Robert Glasper Experiment

There's no one doing more to bring jazz to new audiences and new music to jazz audiences than pianist, producer and bandleader Robert Glasper. At the top of the decade, Glasper brought together his electronic quartet, the Experiment, with such legendary talents as Erykah Badu, Meshell Ndegeocello and Common on a pair of "Black Radio" albums that celebrated the connections between jazz, R&B and hip-hop (and beyond, by covering "Smells Like Teen Spirit"). That approach reached its apotheosis on Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly," an album that is dotted with Glasper's performances and follows his lead into a brave new world. Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Birchmere. birchmere.com. $59.50. Sold out.